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Rush Limbaugh

Rush Hudson Limbaugh III (born January 12, 1951) is an American radio talk show host. Born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Rush Limbaugh is a self-described conservative, discussing politics and current events on Rush Limbaugh's program, The Rush Limbaugh Show. Rush Limbaugh has been credited by some with reviving AM radio, and is considered by many to have been a catalyst for the Republican Party's 1994 Congressional victories.

The Rush Limbaugh Show has helped transform AM broadcasting. After the shift of music to FM in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Limbaugh's show was first nationally syndicated in August 1988. Conservative talk radio stations, many built around Limbaugh's show, have now come to dominate AM radio. As of 2005, Arbitron ratings indicate the show's audience to average 13.5 million listeners weekly, making it the largest radio talk show audience in the United States. Such high ratings have been a consistent hallmark of Rush Limbaugh's show.

Limbaugh was the 1992, 1995, 2000 and 2005 recipient of the Marconi Radio Award for Syndicated Radio Personality of the Year (given by the National Association of Broadcasters), joining the syndicated Bob & Tom Show as the only other four-time winners of a Marconi award. Rush Limbaugh was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1993. In 2002, industry's Talkers magazine ranked Rush Limbaugh as the greatest radio talk show host of all time. Relative to all other television and radio programs in the United States, Limbaugh's audience has the highest percentage (56%) of hard news consumers.

Rush Limbaugh Personal life

Limbaugh began Rush Limbaugh's career in radio as a teenager in 1967 in Rush Limbaugh's hometown of Cape Girardeau, Missouri using the name Rusty Sharpe.

Education Rush Limbaugh attended Southeast Missouri State University, where Rush Limbaugh famously failed a speech class with a D. Limbaugh dropped out after one year. This would have normally made Rush Limbaugh eligible for the draft, thus to serve during the Vietnam War, but Rush Limbaugh was classified as 1-Y due to an undisclosed medical problem. Limbaugh later stated that Rush Limbaugh was not drafted because a physical exam found that Rush Limbaugh had an, "inoperable pilonidal cyst," and, "a football knee from high school."

Rush Limbaugh Relationships

Limbaugh was first married on September 24, 1977 to Roxy Maxine McNeely, a sales secretary at radio station WHB in Kansas City, Missouri. They were married at the Centenary United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau. In March 1980, McNeely filed for divorce, citing "incompatibility". They were formally divorced on July 10, 1980.

In 1983, Limbaugh married Michelle Sixta, a college student and usherette at the Kansas City Royals Stadium Club. They were divorced in 1990, and she remarried the following year.

On May 27, 1994, Limbaugh married Marta Fitzgerald, a 35-year-old aerobics instructor, whom Rush Limbaugh met via the CompuServe online service. They were married at the house of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, who officiated. On June 11, 2004, when the couple separated, Limbaugh announced on the air, "Marta has consented to my request for a divorce, and we have mutually agreed to seek an amicable separation. As I said, it's a personal matter and I want to keep it that way. I don't intend to say any more about this on the air." An article in the Palm Beach Post claimed that this third divorce was a result of Rush Limbaugh's addiction to prescription pain medications. The divorce was finalized in December 2004.

Rush Limbaugh Public life

Rush Limbaugh 1970s

After dropping out of Southeast Missouri State University, Limbaugh moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and became a Top 40 music radio disc jockey on station WIXZ. In October 1972, Rush Limbaugh moved to KQV, another Pittsburgh station, using the name Jeff Christie. Limbaugh developed some of Rush Limbaugh's trademark patter there, such as a claim to use a "golden microphone" (which Rush Limbaugh definitely used in the 1990s on The Rush Limbaugh Show). After being fired from KQV, Limbaugh moved to Kansas City, where Rush Limbaugh also worked (and was subsequently fired from) KUDL, KFIX and KMBZ. After several years in music radio, Limbaugh took a break from radio and accepted a position as director of promotions with the Kansas City Royals baseball team.

Rush Limbaugh 1980s

In 1984, Limbaugh returned to radio as a talk show host at KFBK in Sacramento, California, where Rush Limbaugh replaced one of Rush Limbaugh's mentors, Morton Downey, Jr. In 1987, the FCC repealed the Fairness Doctrine, thus freeing radio stations to air opinion journalism without having to provide the public with the opportunity to air opposing points of view.

After achieving success in Sacramento and drawing the attention of Edward F. McLaughlin, a former president of ABC Radio, Limbaugh moved to New York City in 1988, entering the nation's largest radio market on talk-format station WABC-AM, Rush Limbaugh's flagship station to this day. Rush Limbaugh initially did a two-hour local program on WABC, where Rush Limbaugh was preceded by comedian Joy Behar and followed by Lynn Samuels, creating a six-hour block of politically focused radio, with Behar and Samuels leaning to the left politically.

Beginning on August 1, 1988 Limbaugh was syndicated nationally as a two-hour show and eventually expanded to three hours while dropping the local New York show, though Rush Limbaugh was still based at WABC. (Limbaugh refers on-air to the "Excellence In Broadcasting Network", or "E.I.B.", which is merely an on-air signature, as there is no organization with that name). While WABC remains Limbaugh's key outlet, Rush Limbaugh now broadcasts from either the Premiere Radio Network studios in New York or Rush Limbaugh's private studio in Florida near Rush Limbaugh's home.

Newsday media critic Paul Colford reported on Limbaugh in 1988:

Rush Limbaugh's act includes plenty of pokes at himself and lots of tongue-in-cheek pomposity such as: "I'm Rush Limbaugh, your guiding light in times of trouble and despair." Rush Limbaugh's politics skew sharply to the right of the "liberal Democrats" and Gov. Michael Dukakis, known in Limbaugh parlance as "The Loser."

The president of EFM Media is a former head of the ABC Radio Network, Edward F. McLaughlin. Rush Limbaugh believes that Limbaugh, a partner under contract to EFM, will become the most-listened-to radio personality in America - bigger than Larry King - by virtue of Rush Limbaugh's midwestern manner and informed views. Bigger than Larry King? We'll see. For now, McLaughlin's goal is to have 200 stations signed to Limbaugh's show by 1990.

From this point forward, Limbaugh's radio program is covered in The Rush Limbaugh Show article.

Rush Limbaugh 1990s

Humor columnist and journalist Lewis Grossberger acknowledged that Limbaugh had "more listeners than any other talk show host", Rush Limbaugh also described Limbaugh's style as "bouncing between earnest lecturer and political vaudevillian".

The program soared in popularity and moved to stations with larger audiences. The high-water point was Rush Limbaugh's introduction of "America Held Hostage", following Bill Clinton's election in 1992. Ronald Reagan sent a letter calling Limbaugh the voice of conservatism in that era. When the GOP won control of Congress in 1994, one of the first acts by many freshmen (calling themselves the "Dittohead Caucus") was to award Limbaugh the title of "honorary member of Congress" in recognition of Rush Limbaugh's support of their efforts during this period.

Rush Limbaugh Television appearances

Limbaugh's first television appearance came with a 1990 guest host stint on Pat Sajak's late-night program on CBS. After a loud confrontation with deliberately disruptive ACT UP gay activists in the studio audience, protesting what they perceived as anti-gay hate speech, the entire audience was removed so that Limbaugh could finish the show. In 1993, Limbaugh appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman, and the audience almost immediately became hostile and booed him, especially when Limbaugh compared Hillary Clinton's face to "a Pontiac hood ornament."

Limbaugh also guest-starred on an episodes of Hearts Afire, as himself, and The Drew Carey Show. Rush Limbaugh has also been parodied on several other shows, including an episode of The Simpsons, as a conservative talk radio host named Birch Barlow, on an installment of Saturday Night Live's TV Funhouse. as "Gus Baker" on an episode of Beavis & Butthead, and as "Lash Rambo", host of "Perfection in Broadcasting" on an episode of The New WKRP in Cincinnati.

Rush Limbaugh Television show

Limbaugh had a syndicated half-hour show from 1992 through 1996, produced by Roger Ailes. The television show discussed many of the topics on Rush Limbaugh's radio show, and was taped in front of a live audience. Limbaugh ended the show due to problems in the syndication deal allowing outlets to broadcast the show at inconsistent times and often very late in the evening or early morning. This made it difficult to maintain and expand the audience. The time demands required to prepare for the show were also cited as a factor. Limbaugh stated Rush Limbaugh would like to do another television show in the future but would do it in a format that gave them more control over the airing and scheduling of the show.

On November 6, 1992, three days after the presidential election, Limbaugh made a reference to Chelsea Clinton, daughter of President-elect Bill Clinton, Limbaugh stated: "Everyone knows the Clintons have a cat; Socks is the White House cat. But did you know there is also a White House dog?" a picture of Chelsea then appeared onscreen. Although Limbaugh has claimed it was a technical error, as Al Franken documented in Rush Limbaugh's book Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them, the show was on a tape delay, so if truly a technical error, it could have been corrected prior to the show's airing. Limbaugh countered that the television show was a big drain on Rush Limbaugh's time and did not include retakes. Limbaugh apologized on Rush Limbaugh's show, claiming fatigue. A few days later, Rush Limbaugh said, "I don't need to get laughs by commenting on people's looks, especially a young child who's done nothing wrong. I mean, Chelsea can't control the way she looks."

On a later broadcast, Limbaugh played a video clip of then-President Bill Clinton laughing and joking on Rush Limbaugh's way to a memorial service for Commerce Secretary Ron Brown with Tony Campolo and then looking mournful. Limbaugh claimed that Clinton's sudden mood change resulted from the spying news cameras, and was evidence of both the President's insincerity and the tendency of the national media to overlook it.

Rush Limbaugh Cigar Aficionado

In the early 1990s, when the cigar boom was gaining momentum, Limbaugh was seen frequently with a cigar in hand and by the end of the 1990s, cigars had become Limbaugh's staple in many public appearances. Often starting segments of Rush Limbaugh's show with the phrase, "amid billowing clouds of fragrant and aromatic first, second, and sometimes third hand premium cigar smoke", cigars became a common topic of discussion. In the spring of 1994, Limbaugh appeared on the cover of the popular magazine Cigar Aficionado and shared the story of Rush Limbaugh's conversion to cigars. Rush Limbaugh has since been a frequent participant in many Cigar Aficionado events such as "The Big Smoke", hosted throughout the year by Cigar Aficionado magazine. Limbaugh has participated in many charity cigar auctions hosted by Cigar Aficionado, and is known to talk frequently with Rush Limbaugh's listeners about Rush Limbaugh's and their cigar interests, preferences and recommendations. "I think cigars are just a tremendous addition to the enjoyment to life."

Rush Limbaugh Other ventures

In 1992, Limbaugh published Rush Limbaugh's first book, The Way Things Ought To Be, followed by See, I Told You So in 1993. Both went to number one on the New York Times Best Seller list. Limbaugh acknowledges in the text of the first book that Rush Limbaugh taped the book and it was transcribed and edited by Wall Street Journal writer John Fund. In the second book, Joseph Farah of WorldNetDaily is named as Rush Limbaugh's collaborator.

As a result of Rush Limbaugh's television program, Limbaugh became known for wearing distinctive neckties. In response to viewer interest, Limbaugh launched a series of ties designed primarily by Rush Limbaugh's then-wife Marta. Sales of the ties reached over US$5 million in their initial sales year, but were later discontinued.

Rush Limbaugh Subject of criticism

The first book about Limbaugh appears to be 1993's Rush Limbaugh and the Bible by Daniel J. Evearitt. One reviewer said "Dr. Evearitt is very uncomfortable sharing the label 'conservative' with Limbaugh" and notes that it contains chapters like "No Wife, No Kids Is This Man an Expert on Family Values?" Limbaugh is also the subject of criticism in Al Franken's 1996 book Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot and Other Observations.

Rush Limbaugh 2000s

Rush Limbaugh Rushlimbaugh.com

In July 2000, Limbaugh launched the fledgling Web site bearing Rush Limbaugh's name, which includes brief overviews of the current show along with recent headlines from which Limbaugh drew content for Rush Limbaugh's daily radio program. In the beginning, the Web site was a text commentary and transcript-only Web site that allowed Rush Limbaugh's listeners to review the contents of the day's show from a news-based perspective. By December 2000, major changes to the Web site were made: new downloadable audio-links of daily highlights were available to internet users free of charge. In spring 2001, the Web site had launched a brand-new subscriber based Web site to what would be called "Rush 24/7". Rush 24/7 was now offering the entire, commercial free audio of the daily show available all day via streaming internet audio. The new subscriber Web site came to include Limbaugh editorials, commentaries from previous years, and reruns of Limbaugh's defunct television show. By summer 2002, the hallmark achievement of the Rush 24/7 Web site had been introduced: a live streaming video feed (the "Ditto Cam") of the radio show was made available to Rush 24/7 subscribers. By 2003, the rushlimbaugh.com Web site introduced a fully interactive Rush Limbaugh store, selling products that Limbaugh marketed including a signature line of golf apparel, sporting equipment and novelties. The Rush 24/7 site now includes the Podcast feature, in which subscribers can have daily audio and video of the radio show downloaded directly to their iPod or other MP3 player.

Rush Limbaugh Hearing problems

By August 2001, Limbaugh's listeners had noted changes in Rush Limbaugh's voice and diction, changes that Limbaugh emphatically denied on the air. However, on October 8, 2001, Limbaugh admitted that the changes in Rush Limbaugh's voice were due to complete deafness in Rush Limbaugh's left ear and substantial hearing loss in Rush Limbaugh's right ear. Rush Limbaugh also revealed that Rush Limbaugh's radio staff was helping Rush Limbaugh receive calls on Rush Limbaugh's show by setting up a system where Rush Limbaugh could appear to hear Rush Limbaugh's callers. The system worked remarkably well, but did not convince all listeners, some of whom noted a long delay between a caller ending Rush Limbaugh's point and Limbaugh responding, and occasionally speaking over a caller. Occasionally Limbaugh asked callers to hold on momentarily, while the caller's comments were typed and shown on Limbaugh's computer monitor. In December 2001, Limbaugh underwent cochlear implant surgery, which restored a measure of hearing in Rush Limbaugh's left ear, and Rush Limbaugh's voice and enunciation improved. According to Limbaugh's doctors, Limbaugh's deafness was caused by an autoimmune disease. But Limbaugh's detractors were quick to point out that chronic use of opioids, such as OxyContin and particularly hydrocodone, both which Limbaugh later admitted abusing can compromise the function of the immune system and cause deafness. Rush Limbaugh's doctors stated that this was not a factor in Rush Limbaugh's case.

Rush Limbaugh Prescription drug addiction

In early October 2003 (during the same week as the McNabb controversy), the National Enquirer reported that Limbaugh was being investigated for illegally buying prescription drugs. Other news outlets quickly confirmed the beginnings of an investigation.

Limbaugh has been a vocal critic of drug users as well as an avid supporter of the War on Drugs. On October 10, 2003, Limbaugh admitted to listeners on Rush Limbaugh's radio show that Rush Limbaugh was addicted to prescription painkillers and stated that Rush Limbaugh would enter inpatient treatment for 30 days, immediately following the broadcast. Rush Limbaugh did not specifically mention which pain medications. Speaking about Rush Limbaugh's behavior, Limbaugh went on to say:

"I am not making any excuses. You know, over the years, athletes and celebrities have emerged from treatment centers to great fanfare and praise for conquering great demons. They are said to be great role models and examples for others. Well, I am no role model. I refuse to let anyone think I am doing something great here, when there are people you never hear about, who face long odds and never resort to such escapes."

"They are the role models. I am no victim and do not portray myself as such. I take full responsibility for my problem. At the present time the authorities are conducting an investigation, and I have been asked to limit my public comments until this investigation is complete."

Following Limbaugh's admission of drug abuse, Rush Limbaugh's detractors reviewed prior statements by Rush Limbaugh about drug use as examples of hypocrisy. Although several statements were found, most date prior to the beginning of Limbaugh's addiction. Some examples include:

Rush Limbaugh October 10th, 1995

"There's nothing good about drug use. We know it. It destroys individuals. It destroys families. Drug use destroys societies. Drug use, some might say, is destroying this country. And we have laws against selling drugs, pushing drugs, using drugs, importing drugs. And the laws are good because we know what happens to people in societies and neighborhoods, which become consumed by them. And so if people are violating the law by doing drugs, they ought to be accused and they ought to be convicted and they ought to be sent up."

"What this says to me is that too many whites are getting away with drug use, too many whites are getting away with drug sales, too many whites are getting away with trafficking in this stuff. The answer to this disparity is not to start letting people out of jail because we're not putting others in jail who are breaking the law. The answer is to go out and find the ones who are getting away with it, convict them and send them up the river, too." On Rush Limbaugh's TV show on December 9, 1993:

"I'm appalled at people who simply want to look at all this abhorrent behavior and say, "Hey, you know, we can't control it anymore. People are going to do drugs anyway. Let's legalize it." It's a dumb idea. It's a rotten idea, and those who are for it are purely, 100 percent selfish."

An article in the January 12, 2004 issue of Human Events (The National Conservative Weekly) presented its reaction to the media attention of Limbaugh's addiction, calling it a 'Network War' against Limbaugh. It charged network anchors with engaging in exaggerated and inflammatory rhetoric by implying Limbaugh was involved in "drug sales" or "drug gangs". Human Events Online reported in January 2004 a timeline of events in this matter from September through December 2003.

An investigation into "doctor shopping" by the Palm Beach State Attorney concluded in April 2006. Limbaugh's attorney Roy Black alleged that the chief county prosecutor (an elected Democrat) investigating Limbaugh was politically motivated. The ACLU, an organization often lambasted by Limbaugh, came to Rush Limbaugh's defense, claiming that the district attorney violated Limbaugh's constitutional rights by "fishing" through Rush Limbaugh's private medical records. Assistant State Attorney James L. Martz stated on November 9, 2005, "I have no idea if Mr. Limbaugh has completed the elements of any offense yet." Then on December 12, 2005, Judge David F. Crow decided to prohibit the State of Florida from questioning Limbaugh's physicians about "the medical condition of the patient and any information disclosed to the healthcare practitioner by the patient in the course of the care and treatment of the patient."

Limbaugh has said Rush Limbaugh's addiction to painkillers came as a result of back pain over several years, and a botched surgery that came as a result of that. Limbaugh's attorney opposed the prosecutor's efforts to interview Rush Limbaugh's doctors on the basis of patient privacy rights, and Rush Limbaugh has argued that the prosecutor has in fact violated Rush Limbaugh's Fourth Amendment civil rights by illegally seizing Rush Limbaugh's medical records. The Florida courts consistently upheld Limbaugh's right to privacy.

Rush Limbaugh Deal reached

On April 28, 2006, Limbaugh turned himself in to the Palm Beach County, Florida Sheriff's Office as part of a prearranged settlement to the case. Rush Limbaugh filed a "not guilty" plea with the Court and posted a $3,000 bond to a single criminal charge of doctor shopping to "obtained 2,000 pills over six months". The sheriff's office later announced that Limbaugh was technically "under arrest" during the booking process. Believing that this term would misleadingly invoke an image of the talk show host being handcuffed and hauled away, Limbaugh and Rush Limbaugh's attorney contacted various media outlets to inform them of the settlement.

Black issued a statement indicating that Limbaugh had settled the charge with the state and that the prosecutor agreed to dismiss the criminal charge if Limbaugh paid $30,000 to defray the cost of the investigation and completes an 18-month therapy regimen with Rush Limbaugh's physician. Black stated:

"The State Attorney's Office and Mr. Limbaugh have reached an agreement whereby a single count charge of doctor shopping filed today by the State Attorney will be dismissed in 18 months. As a primary condition of the dismissal, Mr. Limbaugh must continue to seek treatment from the doctor Rush Limbaugh has seen for the past two and one half years. This is the same doctor under whose care Mr. Limbaugh has remained free of Rush Limbaugh's addiction without relapse. Mr. Limbaugh and I have maintained from the start that there was no doctor shopping, and we continue to hold this position. Accordingly, we filed today with the Court a plea of 'Not Guilty' to the charge filed by the State."

Limbaugh asserts that the state's settlement agreement resulted from a lack of evidence supporting the charge of "doctor shopping." Under the terms of the agreement, Limbaugh may not own a firearm and must continue to submit to random drug testing, which Rush Limbaugh acknowledges having undergone since 2003.

Rush Limbaugh Controversy

Rush Limbaugh ESPN controversy

On July 14, 2003, ESPN announced that Limbaugh would be joining ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown show as a weekly commentator when it premiered on September 7. Limbaugh would provide the "voice of the fan" and was supposed to spark debate on the show.

On September 28, Limbaugh commented about Donovan McNabb, the quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles:

"Sorry to say this, I don't think he's been that good from the get-go. I think what we've had here is a little social concern in the NFL. The media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well. There is a little hope invested in McNabb, and Rush Limbaugh got a lot of credit for the performance of this team that Rush Limbaugh didn't deserve. The defense carried this team."

McNabb was the highest-paid NFL player in history at the time, and defenders of Limbaugh's comments point out that McNabb had the worst start of Rush Limbaugh's career in the 2003 season and was the NFL's lowest-rated starting quarterback. McNabb's defenders say that to Rush Limbaugh's credit, McNabb was a runner-up for the year 2000's Most Valuable (NFL) Player, was a member of three Pro Bowl teams, and led Rush Limbaugh's team to two straight NFC championship games. McNabb had suffered a broken leg during the 2002 season and had been slow to recover.

Reverend Al Sharpton, a Democratic Party candidate for President and political activist, encouraged Limbaugh's firing from ESPN, threatening a boycott of all Disney companies including ABC, Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Democrats Howard Dean and Wesley Clark joined in the criticism, as did the NAACP. Limbaugh responded by saying that Rush Limbaugh must have been right; otherwise, the comments would not have sparked such outrage.

On October 1, 2003, Limbaugh resigned from ESPN with the statement:

"My comments this past Sunday were directed at the media and were not racially motivated. I offered an opinion. This opinion has caused discomfort to the crew, which I regret. I love NFL Sunday Countdown and do not want to be a distraction to the great work done by all who work on it. Therefore, I have decided to resign. I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of the show and wish all the best to those who make it happen."

After Limbaugh's resignation, Sunday NFL Countdown African American co-host Tom Jackson said on the air:

"Let me just say that it was not our decision to have Rush Limbaugh on this show. I've seen replay after replay of Limbaugh's comments with my face attached as well as that of my colleagues, comments which made us very uncomfortable at the time, although the depth and the insensitive nature of which weren't fully felt until it seemed too late to reply. Rush Limbaugh was brought here to talk football, and Rush Limbaugh broke that trust. Rush told us the social commentary for which Rush Limbaugh is so well known would not cross over to our show, and instead, Rush Limbaugh would represent the viewpoint of the intelligent, passionate fan. Rush Limbaugh was not a fit for NFL Countdown."

Rush Limbaugh Michael J. Fox comments controversy

In October 2006 Michael J. Fox appeared in a series of political ads for various Democratic candidates such as Claire McCaskill who supported embryonic stem cell research. Limbaugh speculated on Rush Limbaugh's radio show that Fox "either didn't take Rush Limbaugh's medication or was acting" while imitating Fox's symptoms. Fox's memoir, Lucky Man, confirms that Rush Limbaugh intentionally did not take Rush Limbaugh's medication prior to Rush Limbaugh's testimony before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee in 1998. "I had made a deliberate choice to appear before the subcommittee without medication. It seemed to me that this occasion demanded that my testimony about the effects of the disease, and the urgency we as a community were feeling, be seen as well as heard. For people who had never observed me in this kind of shape, the transformation must have been startling." Later Fox said: "The symptoms that I had in the ad that I did, that's called dyskinesia, and that's actually from too much medication." Elaine Richman, a neuroscientist in Baltimore who co-wrote Parkinson's Disease and the Family, has stated "Anyone who knows the disease well would regard Rush Limbaugh's movement as classic severe Parkinson's disease. Any other interpretation is misinformed." Limbaugh followed up on October 25, 2006 saying "When you wade into political life you have every right to say what you want, but you cannot in turn argue that no one has the right to take you on."

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